Mounting for switch-operating means



April 21, 1925. I 1,534,683

F. E. CASE ET AL MOUNTING FOR SWITCH OPERATING MEANS Fiied Nov. 4, 1921 FigL Fr nfiECase, Art uPTCr'ocHeF by Theirflttorneg.

Inventors:

Patented Apr. 21, 1925.

UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK E. CASE'AND ARTHUR T. OROOKER,,OF SOHENECTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIG-NORS TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A. CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

MOUNTING roa swrrcH-oPEnA'rING MEANS.

Application filed November 14, 1921. Serial No. 514,955.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, FRANK E. CASE and ARTHUR T. GROCKER, citizens of the United States, residing at Schenectady, in the 5 county of Schenectady, State of New York,

have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mountings for Switch-Operating Means, of which the following is a specification.

1 Our invention relates to improvements in electric switches whereby a plurality of separately operated switches may be mounted in a small space.

. A plurality of substantially similar 1 switches are frequently mounted in a row on common supporting means, the switches thus mounted forming a single unit. For example, switches for controlling resistors included in the motor circuits of an electric 0 vehicle have been mounted so that the resistor switches form a unit which may be secured in any suitable manner to the frame of the vehicle. In electric vehicles, such for example as an electric locomotive or an electrio railway train unit, space is at a premium, and the present invention is directed to an arrangement for mounting the operating means for the switches so that a large saving in space is made sible.

- In the embodiment of t e invention which we have shown for purposes of illustrating the principles thereof, separate electromagnets are provided as the operating means for the switches, although the invention is not necessarilylimited to an arrangement involving the use of electromagnets as the separate switch operating devices. The operating means or devices such as the electromagnetsordinarily take up considerable 40 room, so that if the separate switches with their operatin electromagnets are assembled in a row .to orm a unit in thecustomary manner, the minimum spacing between the separate switches is limited to the overall width or diameter of the electromagnets. Furthermore, if the height of the separate electromagnets is greater than the overall diameter, this factor must be taken into consideration in order to save space.

In accordance with the present invention, the separate operating means are mounted in two oppositely disposed rows along a median line in close proximity with each other with the separate operating means of the one ,switches are electromagnets.

row in staggered relation with the operating means in the other row. The spacing between the operating means of each row may thereby be less than the width of a single operating means, so that the overall length of the assembly of the switches need be very little more than the length of a single row of the operating means. When the long axis of the separate operating means is greater than the width or diameter thereof, the separate operating means may be mounted with their long axes parallel to each other in a plane at right angles to the plane of movement of the separately operable switch member controlled thereby, and when the electromagnets are used as the operating means, the magnetic movable member of each electromagnet may be mounted for movement in the plane of movement of the movable switch member controlled thereby or a plane parallel thereto, thus effecting a saving in space.

For a better understanding of the inven-' tion, reference is had to the accompanying drawings wherein we have illustrated an embodiment of the invention for the purpose of explaning the principles thereof. Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 shows an end view of an assembled unit in which the separately operated switches and the separate oper; ating means therefor are mounted in staggered or alternate relation in accordance with the present invention. The separate operatingmeansor devices for the separate Fig. 2 is a side view of the switch assembly shown in Fig; 1..

Referring to the drawings, the switch assembly comprises. 'a' row of pivotally mounted movable switch'contact members of which only the contact member 10 may be seen. pivotally mounted for movement about an axis 11 into engagement with a stationary cooperating contact. The contact 10 is Each of these contact members *is adapted to make engagement with its corresponding contact 12. The operation of the contact 10 is effected by means of the electromagnet 13, the pivotally mounted armature 1 1, and the insulating link 15 which is pivotally connected to the switch' member 10 and which serves as the operating member for the switch member. The

operating means for the next movable contact in the row, of which the contact 10 forms a part, is operated by means of the electromagnet 16, the cooperating pivotally mounted armature 17 and the insulated link or operating member 18 which is pivotally connected to the armature 17 and also to its cooperating contact (not shown).

The mounting for the operating electromagnets and their cooperating armatures is such that two rows of the operating electromagnets are provided. Thus, referring to Fig. 2, the operating electromagnets 14, 19 and 20 are disposed in one row and the electromagnets 16, 21 and 22 are disposed in another row, the electromagnets of one row serving as the operating devices for alternate switches, and the operating electromagnets of the other row serving as the operating devices for switches interposed between the switches of the first row. The operating devices may thus be said to be mounted in staggered relation; that is, first an electromagnet, its armature and insulating link on one side of the median line between the two rows of operating electromagnets, then the operating electromagnet, its armature and insulating link disposed in the other row on the opposite side of the median line between the two rows of electromagnets,

then an operating electromagnet, its arma-- ;ture and connecting link in the first row,

and so on through the series of separately operated switches.

The one end. of the core of each electromagnet is secured to the rib 23 of the T- shaped magnetic support formed of two angle members 24 and 25 and the corresponding armaturescooperate with the free ends of the cores ofthe electromagnets. The rib 23 thus forms the median line between the two rows of electromagnets, and it will support 29 which carries the electromagnets and their pivotally mounted armatures is mounted at its end in the end frames of the device, of which the end frame 26 alone is shown, thereby forming a rigid mounting for the switch assembly. i

The switches are provided withv magnetic blowouts, of which the blowout 27 alone is shown, and each switch is provided with a removable arc chute, of which only the arc chute 28 is shown.

It will be observed that by reason of the fact that the separate operating electromagnets for the row of separately operated switches are mounted in the manner above described, the intervening spaces between the electromagnets of each row may be materially less than the width or diameter of a 1 single electromagnet. An appreciable saving in length of the switch assembly is thus made possible. Furthermore, a great saving in the height of the switch assembly is made possible by mounting each electromagnet with its long axis at right angles to the plane of movement of the separately operable switch members controlled thereby.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, we have described the principle of operation of our invention, together with the apparatus which we now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof, but we desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is only illustrative and that the invention may be carried out by other means.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. The combination with a row of spaced apart separately operated switch members, of two closely adjacent rows of separate opcrating devices for the said switch members, the said devices being mounted along a median line parallel with the said row of switch members and with the operating devices of one row in staggered relation with the operating devices of the other row, the

said rows of operating devices being'mount ed on .opposite sides of said median line and movable operating members mounted along x the said median line for connecting the said separately operated switches comprising aseparate'electrom'agnet for operatin each of said switches, a common support a or the said electromagnets having a rib to which the electromagnets are secured in rows on opposite sides thereof, the electromagnets of one row being in staggered relation with the electromagnets of the row on the opposite side of the said rib.

3. Operating means for a row of substantially uniformly spaced separately operated switch members, comprising a separate electromagnet for operating each of said switch members, a common magnetic support for the said electromagnets having a rib to, which corresponding ends of the cores of the electromagnets are secured in rows on opposite sides thereof with intervening spaces between the electromagnets of less than the width of an electromagnetand with the electromagnets of one row in staggered relation with the electromagnets of the row on the opposite side of the said rib, and a sepa ate armature for each of said electromagnets cooperating with the unsecured end of the core of the electromagnet and connected to a corresponding switch member of the said row.

4. The combination with a plurality :of w

ing means of one row staggered with relation to the operating means of the other row.

5. The combination with a row of spaced apart separately operated switches, of separate operating means for each of said switches, means for mounting a. portion of the said operating means in a row along a median line with uniform spacing between the operating means of less than the width of a single operating means and the remainder of the said operating means in a similar row on the opposite side of the said median line with the separate operating means of the one row staggered with relation to the separate operating means of the other row.

6. A plural switch mounting comprising a row of spaced apart separately operated switches, separate operating means for each of said switches, and means for mounting the operating' means of a portion of the said switches in a row along a median line with intervening spaces between the separate operating means and the operating means for the remainder of the switches along the opposite side of the said median line alternately with the said portion.

7. The combination with a row of uniformly spaced apart separately operated switches, of a separate electromagnet for operating each of the said switches, means for mounting the said electromagnets in two rows on opposite sides of a median line with the electromagnets of one row in staggered relation with the electromagnets of the'other row, and a row of operating members for the said switches disposed along the said median line for connecting the respective switches with the corresponding electromagnets.

8. The combination with a row of uniformly spaced apart separately operated switches, of a separate electromagnet for operating each of said switches, a common magnetic support for the said electromagnets, and means for securing the said electromagnets to the said support in two oppositely disposed rows with substantially uniform spacing between adjacent electromagnets of a row and with the electromagnets of one row instaggered relation with the electromagnets of the other row.

In Witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands this 12th day of November, 1921.

F RANK E. CASE. ARTHUR T. CROCKER. 

